Chess game apparatus

ABSTRACT

A zonal chess game comprising a center board containing 64 squares and two generally triangular boards, each containing 20 additional squares, at opposite ends of the center board; and two conventional sets of playing pieces with two extra pawns in each set.

United States Patent Sterler Oct. 24, 1972 [54] CHESS GAME APPARATUS1,679,652 8/1928 Dalrymple ..273/ 131 KP 72 Inventor: Bernard a 51 KimeAve" 2,614,842 10/1952 Rice ..273/131 KP North Babylon LL, 703 3,341,2059/1967 Dykes ..273/l31 L ,4 ,4 69 C 11 ..27 1 I Filed: g 1970 3 33 823/19 aste ano 3/ 3 AB [2]] Appl. No.: 61,326 Primary Examiner-Delbert B.Lowe 52 us. C1 ..273/131 KP [571 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl ..A63f 3/02 AZonal chess game comprising a center board com [58] Field of Search..273/l3l taining 4 squares and two generally trianguhr boards, eachcontaining 20 additional squares, at op- [56] References Cited positeends of the center board; and two conventional UNITED STATES PATENTSsets of playing pieces with two extra pawns in each set.

1,030,521 6/1912 Maxim ..273/131 KN 2 Claims, 14 Drawing FiguresPATENTED C 24 I97? 3. 700.242

saw 1 0r 2 ram-b0 040 BERNARD STERLER P'A'TENTED um 24 m2 SHEET 2 0? 2FIG. l4-

BERNARD STERLER CHESS GAME APPARATUS The subject of this invention is anew variant and addition to the classic game of chess.

The invention is hereinafter referred to as Zonal Chess.

Zonal Chess is played on a different board, with different rules, with40 additional squares, and four extra pawns. The concept of the Game isto checkmate the opponent's King. The strategy method, systems used,powers of the opposing forces, and the balance of attack and defense,form the basis for this invention.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the game board.

FIG. 2 shows the board with pieces set up ready for play.

FIGS. 3 through 14 are diagrams for use in connection with theexplanatory matter appearing hereinafter.

ln Zonal Chess, the center board, FIG. lb, has 64 squares: eight rowsvertically and eight rows horizontally. This is the standard chessboard. All the standard rules of chess are observed on this board.

These rules are ancient and have been codified by the F. I. D. E., theInternational Organization of Chess.

The two outer boards, FIG. 1, a and c, which have been added to thecenter board, form the game board for Zonal Chess.

The object of this invention is to provide an interesting companion gameto the game of chess, that is faster, with sharper tactical situationsand a whole new mode of attack and defense.

This invention relates to the game of chess. This is a modern variant tothe classic game of chess.

This invention has additional playing area, added pieces, new rules, newstriking power for certain forces.

The game board FIG. 1 contains a total of 104 squares. There are 64squares on the center board, FIG. lb. There are 20 more squares in eachZonal Area, FIG. 1a and c. This is a total of forty more squares thanthe standard Chessboard.

The pieces used in this game total 36 pieces. There are pawns, tworooks, two bishops, two knights, one king and one queen for white. Thereare 10 pawns, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, one king and onequeen for Black.

The pieces are set up as in FIG. 2. Notice that there are two extrapawns for White and two extra pawns for Black. The extra pawns are setup one square over from the rook tile on the second rank.

In Zonal Chess, a numbering system is used, FIG. 2 A. to describe andrecord the movements of the various pieces. This modified number systemprovides a clear explanation for the plurality of movements and thetracking of the key pieces. In FIG. 2 C, the main 64 square center boardhas the numbering system running horizontally from left to right,A,B,C,D,E,F,G,l-l and vertically starting from the White position,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8. This is the European system of notation and wasmaintained so that the regular chess notations would appear the same asif the regular game of chess were played.

'lhe positioning of letters I, J, K. L and M, N, O, P in the Zonal Areasimmediately identifies the game as a Zonal Game. The identifying systemcontained herein makes it much easier to describe a complicated playthan the current descriptive system used in the United States atpresent.

The neutral squares, FIG. 2 B, have the same characters as regular boardsquares. and are not used for multiple moves. The neutral squares arelocated at M] and M8, 11 and I8. (FIG. 2 8) They are included in thissystem because of the balancing effect they have on attack and defense.

The neutral squares have a dead stop quality such as the comer squaresin the regular chessboard. These corner squares are found at A1 and A8,and H1 and H8. Any piece entering a neutral square must stop there andmay not move out of the square until the next, or some future, move.When a piece does move out of the neutral square it must do so in anormal manner characteristic of the piece. In FIG. 14, the Queen is atneutral square Ml. If the Queen wishes to enter Zonal Area A it mustmove to either one of the three squares N2, 03 P4, as one move. On thenext move the Queen may act in a Zonal manner (FIG. 11

Any piece originating in a neutral square must make two moves to be ableto act in a Zonal fashion. It must make one move to move into the ZonalArea. The next move can act in a Zonal fashion described herein in FIG.5, FIG. 8, and FIG. 1.

The extra Pawns: There are four extra Pawns; two white and two blackthat are added to the regular chess set of 32 pieces to make 36 pieces.The movements of the Pawns are the same as in the game of chess on theregular board and on the Zonal Areas. In Zonal Chess, there are eightadditional squares of Pawn promotion, FIG. 14. The Pawn promotionsquares are P5, 06, N7, M8, I8, J7, K6, and L5. Now the Pawns may bepromoted on 16 squares instead of 8. (FIG. l4shaded areas).

The Rook. The movement of the Rook in the two Zonal Areas is one of theimportant foundations of this invention. The Rook in the Zonal Areatravels horizontally and vertically, and is free to change direction andmove in indefinitely as long as it remains in one Zonal Area. (FIG. No.3)

When a Rook leaves the Zonal Area, it must continue on a straight line(FIG. 4) until it reaches its destination. As in regular chess, a Rookcaptures by removing a piece from a square and replacing it with its ownpresence. In FIG. 5 all the movement shown is part of one move. TheWhite Rook on N3 captures the Knight on K5.

We recognize that variations may exist that permit the Rook free reignin both areas at one time. Also, the Rook may be permitted under specialrules to ignore the neutral square rules set up in FIG. 2. If the Rookis outside the Zonal Area, as in FIG. 4, and the pieces are reversed,with the White Rook on D5 and the Knight on N3, it would take two movesfor the Rook to capture the Knight on N3. The same capture or effecthappens when the Rook is in the neutral square Ml.

We have given no special powers to the Knight in Zonal Chess. Itperforms in the Zonal Areas as it does in the Regular Areas.

Our choice at this point is to leave the knight in this condition topreserve a particular balance of force and counter-force. However,Bounce qualities and multiplicities of movements for the Knight formpart of the options of this invention.

The Bishop. The Bishop travels diagonally on its own color on on its owncolor, FIG. 1. regular board and in the Zonal Areas. In the Zonal Areas.it is free to change direction and move indefinitely as long as it staysin one Zonal Area on its own color. FIG. &. When the Bishop leaves theZonal Area, it loses its right to change direction and must continue ona straight diagonal line until it reaches its destination. FIGS. 7 and8.

Another option feature that is part of Zonal Chess is the Two square nobounce rule."

One method of playing Zonal Chess is to incorporate a rule thatrestricts the Bishop from leaving the Zonal Area diagonally from squaresM7 and M2, I7 and I2. The idea is to have at least two squares in linebefore crossing into the 64 square area.

In FIG. 7, if the White Rook was at point N7 instead of at N6, theBishop at M2 could not capture the Knight at point B4. The neutralsquares also form a stop" barrier for the Bishop.

The Queen. The Queen retains both the moves of the Rook and the moves ofthe Bishop when in the Zonal Area. It is free to change directionindefinitely, vertically, horizontally or diagonally as long as it staysin one Zonal Area (FIG. 9).

The optional features claimed for the Rook and Bishop are also claimedby the Queen, as the Queen is the combination of the Rook and Bishop.

When the Queen leaves the Zonal Area, it loses its right to changedirection (FIG. 11) and must continue on a straight line until itreaches its destination. When checking the King from the neutral squareon M1.

The main body of rules says that FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 are not a checkingsituation.

In FIG. 14 the Queen is in a neutral square and the King can never bechecked by any piece in a neutral square.

I claim:

1. A game board having the peripheral configuration shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings and having on its surface the checkered game pattern shownin said FIG. 1.

2. A game apparatus consisting of a board having the peripheralconfiguration shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and having on its surfacethe checkered game pattern shown in said FIG. 1; and two sets of chesspieces each consisting of IO pawns, two rooks, two

1. A game board having the peripheral configuration shown in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings and having on its surface the checkered game pattern shownin said FIG.
 1. 2. A game apparatus consisting of a board having theperipheral configuration shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings and having onits surface the checkered game pattern shown in said FIG. 1; and twosets of chess pieces each consisting of 10 pawns, two rooks, twoknights, two bishops, one queen and one king, said two sets of piecesbeing of different colors.